Intermittent Feast Travel Edition: An Easier Diet Plan on the Road

Teabaggin’? Nope, but mine are a blend of Japanese Green and Irish Breakfast. Although small, they are potent, and I’ve been told are quite refreshing, especially with the patented Miyaki steeping method…

These are no match for Miyaki’s 100% organic, gluten-free bags. But I only have two.

But that’s not what I’m talking about today. The “T” word I’m talking about is travel. “I was on track and making great progress until I had to break up my normal routine, and leave town. Then everything went to hell.”

THE OLD, PARANOID, FITNESS DIETING DAYS

I used to feel you.

Back in the days when I was following a more conventional fitness diet, trying to figure out where my next small meal or snack was going to be, pulling over and getting a bullshit candy bar (oh, I mean protein bar) because I feared my muscles were wasting away, canceling afternoon plans because it had been 3 hours and I needed to get my next protein feeding in, trying to figure out how to keep my chicken and rice cold with no fridge at da beach, or without being able to bring a frickin’ cooler into a professional meeting room, etc.

Then, after all that effort of sticking to an impractical (and completely unnecessary, other than fitness tradition) plan, I would eat a big feast-style dinner and drastically overshoot my calories and macro’s anyways because — f*ck it — you’re on vacation or socializing or doing business or whatever.

It was a disaster for my obsessed and paranoid bodybuilder/fitness athlete mind. And I would always come back looking more like Da Baby Sumo and less like Da Ripped Ronin, despite my best efforts to stay on track. I’d come back into town thinking, “damn man, I need to get back in shape.”

My nickname as a portly kid was Baby Sumo.

Any of this sound familiar? If it does, I’m going to free you from the obsession that you’ve been brainwashed to believe is necessary. If it doesn’t, welcome to the mind of a paranoid fitness guy/girl. Be glad you never got sucked into the madness, and can follow a more reasonable and sane plan right from the start.

THE NEW, FEASTING NOMAD

The game has changed since switching over to my Intermittent Feast approach (which is basically the final evolution of my nutritional philosophy). If you’ve been living under a rock and don’t have a clue what I’m talking about, here is a post with a summary of the basic outline. Go read this (I know you were going to gloss over it without taking action) because the structure of this plan is what allows for maximum flexibility and practicality on Da Road. Don’t worry, we’ll wait up for you to finish:

Not only do I think this is a much more functional and sustainable approach for your every day routine, I think it makes it infinitely easier to stay on track when traveling.

No worrying about small meals, no planning your day around food instead of actually living your life, you get to look for bikini babes instead of for snack shacks, trying to get laid every 3 hours instead of trying to find your next fitness meal with perfect macronutrient percentages, etc.

Just grab a lower carb, protein + fat based lunch (which can be done anywhere), and a big, protein + carb based dinner. Vegetables can go with either meal. If I happen to be training or doing something very active, I might also include some whole fruits around that activity. Simple, effective, functional, flexible, practical.

NATE’S EXAMPLE

Want an example? So here’s how I did it on my most recent trip to Hawaii. It was a 4-day whirlwind trip with 4 plane rides to take care of some family stuff. We didn’t have access to a kitchen, we were on an island we had never been to before, we had to eat out every meal, etc.

There was not a lot of control, but it was still possible to stay on track with this Intermittent Feast approach. And honestly, it was actually pretty easy. So easy a guy who eats “a caveman-style diet with some sports nutrition modification” could do it.

So first, a little background about my current diet program. Right now, I’m just eating for maintenance or recomposition, staying in good physique shape (I had a photo shoot the day after my return with a fitness equipment manufacturer). I’m 165lbs, don’t know my body fat, but if I had to guess I’d say 7%ish.

And for all the meatheads who want to keyboard bash now (guess I spend too much time in forums), trust me, I’ve met some of the guys that claim online to be 220lbs and 6% body fat. Hahahaha, more like 200lbs and 6 months pregnant….Its like pro wrestling, guess everyone has to embellish. When I was pro wrestling they used to list me as 6′ 200lbs.

But listen man, I’m not trying to impress anyone. I’m happy with where I’m at and where I’m going. My goal is to help YOU make some progress, and give YOU useful tools. I can’t do that if I’m bullsh*tting you trying to maintain some kind of mysterious online image.

I’m an open book, and a real guy trying to get real results, just like you. Maybe what I’ve learned along the way will help you. I think this lesson definitely will.

On off days, I eat in a slight calorie deficit with numbers geared more towards fat loss

Calories go up through carbs on training days, but I didn’t get to train while traveling this time. I was using it as some informal, active recovery — lots of walking, had one day where we got to climb down to a waterfall, and I unleashed the Little Shitake for some much needed sunshine and Vitamin D (hoping that it will make it grow).

Hey, I think that’s a life-size replica.

So this was about trying to stay right around those #’s. I did not carry around a portable weighing scale or measuring cups. If I overshot or undershot the numbers, I didn’t call my mom crying, have a nervous breakdown, or think about committing Sepukku (ritual suicide in the Samurai era).

Place: Bar Meal: We were out and about doing a bunch of errands and stopped off for a drink. I got a black coffee & whiskey. Now young kids, don’t misunderstand me. I’m not trying to glorify drinking. I’m just trying to give an honest snapshot of the trip.

Place: Airplane Meal: Teriyaki Chicken plate, 4 large futo maki rolls (we bought these at a grocery store and brought them with us on the plane). Totals: 75g pro, 250g carbs, 15g fats

Daily totals: 125g pro, 250g carbs, 30g fats, 1800 calories

WRAP-UP

The night we returned, dropped my bags, dropped a deuce, and then took a photo.

As you see, it wasn’t perfect, but I was able to stay on track with my goals, relatively easily. More importantly, I felt great the whole time, didn’t come back feeling like crap or like I had to “make up” for lost time.

I hope this gives you some hope that it’s not all that hard to eat for fitness when traveling, IF you have a more reasonable approach. Its a lot more manageable when you only have to worry about getting 2 meals, and get to eat a big, satiating, Feast at night.

Well said man. I tend to rely on IF a lot while traveling. The only time it’s rough is when the group your with decides to have a big breakfast together at a restaurant or something… then you’re either stuck sipping coffee while everyone else feasts or you gotta rework your fasting schedule a bit.

Great post! I have been loving the 2 meals per day (even as a gal). I have read on other Paleo-type female blogs about IF. Most gals state it is horrible for them-I am LOVING not needing to think about food. Complete freedom. It was definitely almost breaking religion patterns when I made the decision to say “see ya” to 6 meals/day. I was so scared my metabolic rate would drop. So far so good:) One question: For a post workout meal-should I eat fruit only? Or should I follow what you have stated in your book of a 1:1 ratio (example: 30 carbs/30 protein). Last question: Does Kalai eat like this also? Does this work well for her? I am wanting to drop 2-3% body fat. I just started the IF 1.5 weeks ago and excited to see the results that it will bring. Thanks for all your info! Kristi

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